Video: Olympic slalom kayakers venture into the wild

Roaring artificial pumps circulate millions of gallons of water through concrete channels and carefully sculpted river features. Specialized teams prepare for the worst and a conveyer belt returns paddlers to the top of the course for another try after every run.

In preparation for the Rio Olympics, Mike Dawson (NZL) and Joe Clarke (GBR) left the safety of artificial slalom courses behind. Instead, they saddled up on a helicopter and took their fiberglass slalom boats to New Zealand’s remote Whataroa River. Red Bull built a slalom course on a steep boulder garden in the heart of the canyon to test the athletes’ skills.

According to Clarke, “In a place like this, you have to be able to sort your own sh-t out. If something goes wrong, you’re on your own.” This is the kind of focus that the athletes hope to channel at the Rio Olympic course this summer.